I was five months pregnant when the Hamas attack took place on October 7.

Then, on a very cold winter evening, after months of disappearances of hundreds of Israelis taken from their families, my daughter Ludmila was born.

I remember living our first nights with her in a completely surreal way. I still did not understand how it was possible for a human being to have left my body, how it was possible for me to harbor life inside me, it all seemed like an inexplicable miracle. And at the same time I felt a deep sense of pain and incoherence when I thought of the hostages.

I began to pray “Matir asurim” (Who frees the captives) while feeding my daughter, or whenever I experienced something that for me was miraculous. I could not allow the value of a life to be underestimated. It is as if with each progress of my daughter, I felt an inner need for justice.

Parashat Shoftim contains within its lines a significant number of laws regarding the organization of the state and justice. Mainly the rendering of justice in times of war.

Each single verse of this Parasha always leads me to the conclusion that for our people there is nothing more precious than the value of a single life.

Thinking of meaningful ways to honor the value of life and in observance of my daughter's Simchat Bat (Hebrew naming of girls), I wanted to compose a blessing for children.

I wanted it to be inclusive. So the first part offers the text that has accompanied our people for millennia and is set up in binary mode. But the second paragraph is neutral, so that all gender groups are also represented.

It is my wish that we can bless our children every Shabbat by singing melodies from the heart. May they grow up healthy and happy.

May they begin this new school year in freedom and enjoying life every minute as if it were the most precious treasure.